Sex assault by Sonics' Patterson alleged

Charges likely will be filed today; Alford plea planned

Updated 10:00 pm, Monday, May 7, 2001

A nanny who cared for Ruben Patterson's three children is claiming the Sonics forward sexually assaulted her last year.

Bellevue police confirmed that a report was taken, but Patterson, 25, has not yet been charged with a crime. Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecutor's Office, said charges of third-degree attempted rape are expected to be filed today.

Patterson will enter a modified guilty plea to an attempted rape charge, his lawyer told The Associated Press last night.

Patterson plans to enter an Alford plea in King County Superior Court on Friday to a charge of attempted third-degree rape, attorney John Wolfe said. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but agrees there may be sufficient evidence for a jury to convict him.

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"Ruben Patterson denies that he engaged in any criminal conduct," Wolfe said. "Nonetheless, he acknowledges that he committed an act of marital infidelity, for which he accepts full responsibility. He would like to apologize to his wife, his teammates and the team, and the complaining witness in this case, for the difficulties each has experienced as a result of his actions.

"However, despite his claim of innocence, he has decided that in order to avoid any significant financial and emotional cost associated with a trial on the merits, and to bring closure to this incident, that he will enter this Alford plea."

The maximum sentence for attempted third-degree rape, a gross misdemeanor, is a year in jail.

The woman contacted police on Sept. 30, 2000, five days after the incident allegedly occurred.

She told a Bellevue detective that she was hired in February 2000 to care for Patterson's children. On Sept. 25, 2000, the woman said, she agreed to spend the evening at Patterson's Bellevue home because his wife was at a hospital recovering from a medical procedure.

About 11 p.m., the woman said, she entered a room to check on the youngest child and found Patterson naked. Embarrassed, the woman quickly left the room. But she said Patterson ran up to her from behind, grabbed her and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

After the attack, he allegedly told her that "everything would be all right if she did not tell anyone what had happened," according to the police report.

The woman said she remained at the home that night, as she didn't believe she could leave the children alone with Patterson. But the following morning, she said, she told a friend, her father and the agency that placed her there what had occurred.

The woman said she continued to work for the family for several days. At the time, she said, Patterson had left the state to face assault charges in Ohio for an unrelated incident there. Patterson eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge following a fight outside a Cleveland bar on June 11, 2000. The assault left the victim with a broken jaw. Patterson was suspended for three games.

The nanny said she stayed at the home because Patterson's wife needed assistance as she recovered from her surgery.

Within the week, the woman told Patterson's wife. The woman claimed that Patterson's wife suggested they meet with Patterson to discuss the incident. Before that could happen, the woman contacted police.

The report notes the woman had not washed the clothing worn during the alleged assault, but does not indicate whether it was recovered.

The 6-foot-5, 224-pound Patterson was a sparkplug for the Sonics off the bench most of last season, his third in the NBA and second in Seattle. He played in 76 games, averaging a career-high 13.1 points and five rebounds in 27.1 minutes. He will be a restricted free agent this summer.